Patch panels with communications connectors that are rotatable about a vertical axis

ABSTRACT

A patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, includes: a frame including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel, the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures, and a plurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electrical contacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. The plug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the mating plug and further includes a plug latch recess. The outlets are oriented such that the plug latch recess is positioned on one side edge of the plug aperture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to communication connectors,and more specifically to connectors employed with patch panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communications cables, such as shielded and unshielded twisted paircables, coaxial cables, and fiber optic cables, transmit data, voice,video and/or audio information in the telecommunications industry.Network equipment enclosure rack systems are well-known in this industryfor managing and organizing such cables as they are routed to and fromvarious destinations.

Rack systems typically include a distribution frame rack on which one ormore patch panels, network equipment, fiber optic enclosures and thelike are mounted. Rack systems serve various functions, including theiruse as slack trays, splice trays, cable organizers and patch panels.These rack systems also serve as interconnect or cross-connectenclosures when they interface with equipment. Additionally, racksystems may serve as a telecommunications closet, allowing the cables tobe terminated, spliced, patched and/or stored at various places alongtheir length.

The rack is usually formed from a frame having mounting apertureslocated along the vertical legs or walls of the rack. Patchingequipment, such as a patch panel, is mounted onto the rack so as togenerally define a patching side, where patch cords from another activedevice or another patch panel can be cross-connected and interconnected,and a distribution side, where cables from network equipment and/or workstation areas are terminated.

Generally, some structures or feature for cable management are providedon both sides of the rack to support and route the cables. With theincreasing use of fiber optic connectors as applied to connector racksystems, proper cable management and bend radius control has becomeincreasingly important. Many known systems are unable to providecomplete bend radius control, are inefficient, are difficult tomanufacture, are difficult to manage and access, and/or have otherdrawbacks.

One proposed improvement to patch panel design is described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,866,541 to Barker et al. This patent describes a patch panel thatdefines generally a shallow V-shape (rather than being flat or planar),such that the vertex of the “V” protrudes in front of the rack to whichit is mounted. Jacks mounted in the patch panel are mounted flush withthe patch panel surfaces so that they are oriented to face outwardly aswell as forwardly. Consequently, both plug insertion and cord managementmay be simplified. One shortcoming of this design is that the extensionof the patch panel forwardly of the rack may require additional space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed toa patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack. The patch panelcomprises: a frame including mounting features at opposite lateral endsfor mounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to thepatch panel, the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures; and aplurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of theoutlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. Theplug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the matingplug and further includes a plug latch recess. The outlets are orientedsuch that the plug latch recess is positioned on one side edge of theplug aperture when the patch panel is mounted on a network rack.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed toa patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising: aframe including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mountingthe patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel,the bezel including a generally planar face plate and a plurality ofoutlet apertures in the face plate, wherein a plane defined by themounting features is substantially parallel to the face plate; and aplurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of theoutlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug, theplug aperture having a generally horizontal axis for receiving themating plug. The outlets are oriented such that the horizontal axes ofthe plug outlet apertures extend at an oblique angle from the faceplate.

As a third aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed toa patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising: aframe including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mountingthe patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel,the bezel including a front face plate with a plurality of outletapertures and top and bottom panels mounted to the face plate; and aplurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of theoutlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. Theplug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the matingplug and further includes a plug latch recess. The outlets are orientedsuch that the plug latch recess is positioned on one side edge of theplug aperture and such that the horizontal axis of each plug apertureextends forwardly and laterally away from its respective plug aperture.The top and bottom panels of the bezel include notches that receivetherein portions of the outlets.

As a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed toa patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising: aframe including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mountingthe patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel,the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures, and a plurality ofcommunication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outletapertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. Theplug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the matingplug. The outlets are rotatable about a vertical axis between aforwardly-facing orientation and a forwardly- and laterally-facingorientation within the outlet aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a patch panel according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the patch panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the patch panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the patch panel of FIG. 1 withoutlets removed.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an exemplary bezel of the patchpanel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the bezel of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial, enlarged top view of the bezel of FIG. 6 with anoutlet inserted therein and oriented to face forwardly

FIG. 8 is a partial, enlarged top view of the bezel of FIG. 5 with anoutlet inserted therein and oriented to face forwardly and laterally asshown in FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described more particularly hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is notintended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather, theseembodiments are intended to fully and completely disclose the inventionto those skilled in this art. In the drawings, like numbers refer tolike elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some componentsmay be exaggerated for clarity.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. As used herein the expression “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will befurther understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” whenused in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Where used, the terms “attached”, “connected”, “interconnected”,“contacting”, “mounted,” “coupled” and the like can mean either director indirect attachment or contact between elements, unless statedotherwise. In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”,“below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein forease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship toanother element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It willbe understood that the spatially relative terms are intended toencompass different orientations of the device in use or operation inaddition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if thedevice in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or“beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” theother elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors ofrelative spatial relationships used herein interpreted accordingly.

Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail forbrevity and/or clarity.

This invention is directed to a patch panel for communicationsconnectors, with a primary example of such being a communications outletor jack. As used herein, the terms “forward”, “forwardly”, and “front”and derivatives thereof refer to the direction defined by a vectorextending from the center of the patch panel toward the viewer in FIG.2. Conversely, the terms “rearward”, “rearwardly”, and derivativesthereof refer to the direction directly opposite the forward direction;the rearward direction is defined by a vector that extends from thecenter of the patch panel away from the viewer in FIG. 2. The terms“lateral,” “laterally”, and derivatives thereof refer to the directiondefined by a vector originating at the center of the patch panel andextending normal to a vertical plane that extends through the center ofthe patch panel toward the viewer in FIG. 2. The terms “medial,”“inward,” “inboard,” and derivatives thereof refer to the direction thatis the converse of the lateral direction, i.e., the direction extendingfrom the periphery of the patch panel toward the aforementionedbisecting plane.

Referring now to the figures, a communications rack assembly, designatedbroadly at 10, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The exemplary rack assembly10 includes one patch panel 12, although those skilled in this art willappreciate that typically a communications rack 10 will include multiplepatch panels 12. The patch panel 12 is essentially a skeletal frame thatin the illustrated embodiment includes a generally planar front panel13, a top lip 14, a bottom lip 16, and lateral flanges 18 (see FIG. 4)or other mounting features that enable the patch panel 12 to be mountedto the rack assembly 10. The front panel 13 includes openings in whichmounting bezels 30 are received. The lateral flanges 18 define a plane Pthat is substantially parallel with the front panel 13. The patch panel12 is typically formed of steel or another metal, although in someembodiments other materials may be employed.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-3, the patch panel 12 presents a number ofcommunications outlets 20 mounted in the bezels 30. Each of the outlets20 has a plug aperture 22 facing generally the “patching” side of thepatch panel 12 in which a communications plug 24 is inserted. The plug24 is attached to a patch cord 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Each plugaperture 24 includes a plug latch recess 27 in a side edge 25 thereoffor receiving the snap latch of a standard plug 24. Referring to FIG. 3,a cable 28 is connected to the opposite end of each outlet 20 on the“distribution side” of the patch panel 12. Conventionally, the patchcords 26 are routed from their insertion points with the outlets 20horizontally along the patching side of the rack 10, and the cables 28are routed horizontally along the distribution side of the patch panel12, although this routing scheme can be reversed or modified as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the patch panel 12illustrated therein receives four bezels 30, each of which presentsmounting locations for six outlets 20 (in two horizontal rows of threeoutlets 20 in each row), although those skilled in this art willrecognize that different numbers of bezels per patch panel, differentnumbers of outlets per bezel, and different configurations of outlets 20within a bezel 30 may be employed. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary bezel30. The bezel 30 includes a front face plate 32 with outlet apertures36, a top panel 37, a bottom panel 40, and side walls 46. Each of theoutlet apertures 36 is defined by one of the top or bottom panels 37,40, one of three horizontal partitions 34, and vertical partitions 33.Each of the horizontal surfaces that defines an outlet aperture 36(i.e., the horizontal partitions 34, the top panel 37, and the bottompanel 40) includes an engagement recess 35. Also, the top panel 37includes three notches 38 in its rear edge, each of which is offsetmedially from a respective upper outlet aperture 36 (see FIGS. 5 and 6);similarly, the bottom panel 40 includes three notches (not visible inFIGS. 5 and 6) in its rear edge that are vertically aligned with thenotches 38.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the bezel 30 includes a pair of latches 42 thatextend from the rear surface of the face plate 32 near the side walls46. These latches 42 engage apertures, recesses or the like (not shown)on the front panel 13 of the patch panel 12 to mount the bezel 30thereto. The bezel 30 also includes guides 44 that extend rearwardlyfrom the face plate 32 from a medial location adjacent a respectivenotch 38.

The bezel 30 is typically formed of a polymeric material, such aspolycarbonate or a polycarbonate/ABS blend, and is injection-molded.However, the bezel 30 can be formed of other materials known by thoseskilled in this art to be suitable for this use. In addition, in someembodiments the frame and bezel may be formed as a single unitarymember, with the frame providing support and the bezel providingmounting locations for the outlets 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the outlet 20 includes a jack frame 52and a rear housing 60. The jack frame 52 has a top surface 53 and abottom surface (not shown), each with latches 54 mounted thereon, andalso includes side walls 57, 59. A beveled surface 56 merges with theside wall 57 and extends at an oblique angle thereto (typically thisangle is between about 10 and 45 degrees). The jack frame 52 includesthe aforementioned plug aperture 22, within which are mounted electricalterminals 61 (see FIG. 1) for mating with the contacts of a mating plug24.

The rear portion of the jack frame 52 is mounted to the rear housing 60,to which the cable 28 is connected. Typically, the rear housing 60includes insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) or the like forconnecting the individual conductors of the cable 28 to the rear housing60. Also, ordinarily the electrical terminals 61 that are mounted withinthe plug aperture 22 are mounted in a wiring board or the like thatresides within the rear housing 60. A cover 62 is fixed to one side ofthe rear housing 60, and another cover 64 is releasably latched to theother side of the housing 60. The cover 64 can be removed duringtermination of the cable conductors with the IDCs and replaced followingtermination.

The structure and operation of an exemplary outlet 20 are described ingreater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,395 to Arnett et al, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Referring still to FIGS. 7 and 8, the outlet 20 is mounted in an outletaperture 36 in the bezel 30 such that the top surface 53 and the bottomsurface are generally horizontal and the side walls 57, 59 are generallyvertical. The outlet 20 is maintained in position by the latches 54 asthey engage the engagement recesses 35 in the bezel 30. In theorientation of FIG. 7, the outlet 20 is oriented so that the side walls57, 59 are substantially perpendicular to the face plate 32 of the bezel30, such that the plug axis A1 along which the plug 24 enters the plugaperture 22 is perpendicular to the face plate 32. In contrast, in theorientation of FIG. 8, the outlet 20 is oriented such that the beveledsurface 56 is generally perpendicular to the face plate 32 of the bezel30; thus, the plug aperture 22 faces forwardly and laterally at anoblique angle of between about 10 and 45 degrees to the face plate 32 ofthe bezel 30. Consequently, the horizontal plug axis A2 along which theplug 24 enters the plug aperture 22 is at an oblique angle to the faceplate 32 of the bezel 30, and the patch cord 26 attached to the plug 24naturally extends laterally from the plug 24. In this orientation,portions of the rear housing 60 and/or the cover 64 are received in thenotches 38 in the bezel 30 (because the lips 14, 16 of the patch panel12 are typically thinner than the top and bottom panels 37, 40 of thebezel 30, the lips 14, 16 may not require a notch or recess in order toaccommodate the outlet 20; also, in other embodiments, the open notches38 may be omitted entirely or may be replaced with closed recesses inthe panels 37, 40). The guides 44 are positioned to assist with theinsertion of the outlets 20 in the bezel 30.

The outlet 20 can be rotated between the orientations of FIGS. 7 and 8by inserting the outlet 20 in one of the orientations, then rotating theoutlet 20 about a vertical axis A3 that passes through the latches 42.Thus, the operator can choose between orientations of the outlet foroperations such as conductor termination, plug insertion, cablemanagement, and the like.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of thisinvention have been described, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined inthe claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, withequivalents of the claims to be included therein.

1. A patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising:a frame including mounting features at opposite lateral ends formounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to thepatch panel, the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures; and aplurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of theoutlet apertures, each of the outlets including a plurality ofelectrical contacts within a plug aperture configured to receive amating plug, the plug aperture having a generally horizontal axis forreceiving the mating plug and further including a plug latch recess, theoutlets being oriented such that the plug latch recess is positioned onone side edge of the plug aperture when the patch panel is mounted onthe network rack.
 2. The patch panel defined in claim 1, wherein thecommunication outlets are oriented such that the horizontal axis of eachplug aperture faces forwardly and laterally.
 3. The patch panel definedin claim 2, wherein each outlet includes a jack frame having a side wallwith a beveled surface.
 4. The patch panel defined in claim 1, whereineach outlet aperture includes an engagement recess on top and bottomedges thereof, and wherein each outlet includes engaging members thatengage the engagement recesses.
 5. The patch panel defined in claim 1,wherein the bezel includes top and bottom panels, and wherein each ofthe top and bottom panels includes notches configured to receiveportions of the communication outlets.
 6. The patch panel defined inclaim 1, wherein the outlet apertures are arranged in two parallel rows.7. The patch panel defined in claim 1, wherein the bezel includes guidesthat extend rearwardly therefrom.
 8. A patch panel configured formounting to a network rack, comprising: a frame including mountingfeatures at opposite lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to thenetwork rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel, the bezel including agenerally planar face plate and a plurality of outlet apertures in theface plate, wherein a plane defined by the mounting features issubstantially parallel to the face plate; and a plurality ofcommunication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outletapertures, each of the outlets including a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug, theplug aperture having a generally horizontal axis for receiving themating plug, the outlets being oriented such that the horizontal axes ofthe plug outlet apertures extend at an oblique angle from the faceplate.
 9. The patch panel defined in claim 8, wherein each outletincludes a jack frame having a side wall with a beveled surface.
 10. Thepatch panel defined in claim 8, wherein each outlet aperture includes anengagement recess on top and bottom edges thereof, and wherein eachoutlet includes engaging members that engage the engagement recesses.11. The patch panel defined in claim 8, wherein the bezel includes topand bottom panels, and wherein each of the top and bottom panelsincludes notches configured to receive portions of the communicationoutlets.
 12. The patch panel defined in claim 8, wherein the outletapertures are arranged in two parallel rows.
 13. The patch panel definedin claim 8, wherein the bezel includes guides that extend rearwardlytherefrom.
 14. The patch panel defined in claim 8, wherein each of theplug apertures includes a plug latch recess on a side edge thereof. 15.A patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising: aframe the patch panel including mounting features at opposite lateralends for mounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mountedto the patch panel, the bezel including a front face plate with aplurality of outlet apertures and top and bottom panels mounted to theface plate; and a plurality of communication outlets mounted inrespective ones of the outlet apertures, each of the outlets including aplurality of electrical contacts within a plug aperture configured toreceive a mating plug, the plug aperture having a generally horizontalaxis for receiving the mating plug and further including a plug latchrecess, the outlets being oriented such that the plug latch recess ispositioned on one side edge of the plug aperture and such that thehorizontal axis of each plug aperture extends at an oblique angle awayfrom its respective plug aperture when the patch panel is mounted on thenetwork rack, and wherein the top and bottom panels of the bezel includenotches that receive therein portions of the outlets.
 16. The patchpanel defined in claim 15, wherein each outlet includes a jack framehaving a side wall with a beveled surface.
 17. The patch panel definedin claim 15, wherein each outlet aperture includes an engagement recesson top and bottom edges thereof, and wherein each outlet includesengaging members that engage the engagement recesses.
 18. The patchpanel defined in claim 15, wherein the outlet apertures are arranged intwo parallel rows.
 19. The patch panel defined in claim 15, wherein thebezel includes guides that extend rearwardly therefrom.
 20. A patchpanel configured for mounting to a network rack, comprising: a frameincluding mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mounting thepatch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel, thebezel including a plurality of outlet apertures; and a plurality ofcommunication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outletapertures, each of the outlets including a plurality of electricalcontacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug, theplug aperture having a generally horizontal axis for receiving themating plug, the outlets being rotatable about a vertical axis between aforwardly-facing orientation and a forwardly- and laterally-facingorientation within the outlet aperture.
 21. The patch panel defined inclaim 20, wherein each plug aperture further includes a plug latchrecess, and wherein the outlets are oriented such that the plug latchrecess is positioned on one side edge of the plug aperture when thepatch panel is mounted on the network rack.
 22. The patch panel definedin claim 20, wherein each outlet includes a jack frame having a sidewall with a beveled surface.
 23. The patch panel defined in claim 20,wherein each outlet aperture includes an engagement recess on top andbottom edges thereof, and wherein each outlet includes engaging membersthat engage the engagement recesses.
 24. The patch panel defined inclaim 20, wherein the bezel includes top and bottom panels, and whereineach of the top and bottom panels includes notches configured to receiveportions of the communication outlets.
 25. The patch panel defined inclaim 20, wherein the outlet apertures are arranged in two parallelrows.
 26. The patch panel defined in claim 20, wherein the bezelincludes guides that extend rearwardly therefrom.